The workshop will explore the many ways an airport can serve as an economic engine for a city.
The Enterprise Innovation Institute at Georgia Tech, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are harnessing their collective expertise to offer a training program that provides tools and innovative strategies for leveraging local resources, infrastructure, and airport operations to spur long-term socioeconomic development worldwide.
The Airports and Economic Development Training Program was created in 2005 by UNITAR and CIFAL Atlanta, with the support of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and implemented in collaboration with Airports Council International (ACI) and other private sector partners.
Between 2006 and 2013, UNITAR and CIFAL Atlanta hosted the Airports and Economic Development Program Seminar Series, which included four seminars per year that featured training sessions, demonstrations, tours, and site visits.
Currently, the Airports and Economic Development Training Program is being offered by Georgia Tech and UNITAR as an intensive two-day seminar that creates an international platform for dialogue on issues related to airports, aviation, and economic development.
“The Enterprise Innovation Institute at Georgia Tech is uniquely suited for this type of collaboration, due to its comprehensive ecosystem that fosters innovation and economic development,” said Juli Golemi, director of EI2 Global. “This program is a great example of how collaboration can lead to great achievements in airport growth and economic development. By sharing knowledge and resources, we’re helping airports become hubs of prosperity and innovation that benefit their communities and beyond.”
Home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta is an ideal host for the program. Because Hartsfield-Jackson is so well-connected — in terms of both flight activity and the synergistic relationships it maintains with the metro area — it perfectly exemplifies the many ways an airport can serve as an economic engine for a city.
According to airport Senior Director of International Affairs Alrene Richards Barr, the airport’s direct economic impact to the state is more than $66 billion a year, and it supports in excess of 380,000 jobs, including 63,000 at Hartsfield-Jackson. “This partnership is critical for the city of Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as we foster stronger international relationships,” she said. “The most significant tangible benefits will be the resulting new air service, business growth, and economic development.”
Airports can also play a crucial role in sustainability by implementing effective waste management strategies and maximizing overall energy efficiency. Enterprise Innovation Institute Vice President David Bridges called the Airports and Economic Development Training “an effort which rightly promulgates the value of international airports as an anchor for sustainable socioeconomic development.”
The Airports and Economic Development Training Program is being hosted in four locations, with one session each in the Western Hemisphere, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. Aimed at regional delegates from governmental, private, and civil organizations — including airport executives, civil aviation authorities, business leaders, and economic development officials — workshop topics are specifically tailored to the needs of each geographical area.
With the assistance of airport representatives, program participants learn how to apply principles and best practices in their own regions. Airport tours give them in-person introductions to systems and processes, from baggage handling to emergency preparedness, including firefighting resources. Throughout, they discover how to address the needs of passengers, cargo logistics, safety infrastructure, and security while making their own airports more competitive and sustainable.
“The Airports and Economic Development Global Training Program highlights the role airports can have in fostering economic development while contributing to sustainability,” said Estrella Merlos, UNITAR’s associate director. “By leveraging our mutual expertise together with the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Georgia Institute of Technology, our program aims to empower airport and aviation leaders with cutting-edge strategies on airport management, ensuring they contribute effectively to economic growth and align with local and international development goals.”
Viviana Montenegro, program manager and research faculty II member in EI2 Global, emphasized that the workshop provides innovative keys for unlocking the full potential of airports to drive regional growth and prosperity.
“Participants will investigate innovative strategies, gain new expertise, and collaborate with industry leaders, government officials, economic developers, and civil aviation authorities to exchange best practices,” she said. “Join this dynamic global workshop series to explore how airports can become powerful engines of economic development.”
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